THE 
AMERICAN  JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
JULY,  1  8  60. 
NOTE  UPON  THE  FECULA  OF  ALSTROEMERIA. 
By  J.  Carson,  M.  D., 
Professor  of  Materia  Medica  and  Pharmacy  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
*  The  genus  Alstroemeria  as  a  source  of  edible  fecula,  em- 
ployed for  purposes  of  nutrition  in  certain  portions  of  the  world, 
has  not  been  prominently  noticed  in  any  work  on  Pharmacology 
in  the  English  language,  although  it  has  been  alluded  to  in 
scientific  works  and  treatises  of  foreign  production,  without, 
however,  much  importance  being  attached  to  it  in  an  economical 
point  of  view.  My  attention  has  been  directed  towards  this 
subject  in  consequence  of  having  received  a  specimen  of  fecula 
from  Dr.  Ruschenberger,  U.  S.  N.,  when  on  a  cruise  in  the 
Independence  in  1855  on  the  western  coast  of  South  America. 
It  was  accompanied  by  the  plant  in  an  immature  condition,  with 
the  tuberous  roots  attached,  and  which  at  the  time  was  surmised 
to  be  a  species  of  Alstroemeria.  Since  his  return  home  he  has 
received  and  submitted  to  me  the  flowers  of  this  plant,  confirm- 
ing first  impressions  and  enabling  me  to  determine  the  species. 
In  the  present  paper  I  shall  endeavor  to  present  all  the  infor- 
mation possessed  in  connection  with  the  history  of  this  variety 
of  fecula.  The  specimen  before  me  is  labelled  «  Talcahuano 
Arrow  Boot'' 
The  genus  Alstroemeria  belongs  to  the  natural  family  Ama- 
ryllidacE2E,  Lindley,  Vegetable  Kingdom;  a  family  which  con- 
tains many  interesting  plants,  different  in  properties  and  uses. 
Alstrcemeria.     Gen.  char. — Perianth  corolla-like,  superior, 
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